USA > California > A history of the new California, its resources and people; Vol II > Part 2
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establishment shows how well he has devoted himself to his life work and how fully he has acquired the confidence of the public in his reliability and high-class methods of doing business. He has been in business in Yreka for nearly fifteen years, and has also been an influential and public-spirited citizen and a hearty worker for the welfare of his community.
Mr. O'Connell was born in San Francisco, May 14, 1857, a son of James and Annie (Deegan) O'Connell, both of whom were natives of Ire- land, the former of Limerick. His father, who died in San Francisco in 1901, was a pioneer to California in 1849, and was engaged continuously in the wood and lumber business in San Francisco for thirty-five years, the last fifteen years of his life being spent in retirement. He was elected to the legislature during the early days of California, and was a well known and representative citizen. His wife died in 1892. The two surviving daugh- ters of the family are Miss Helen A. and Miss Marian F., who are both teachers in Miss West's School for Girls in San Francisco.
Mr. O'Connell graduated from the Lincoln grammar school of San Francisco in 1870. He then entered the drug store at the corner of Sutter and Powell streets, owned by Henry B. Shaw, for whom he worked seven years and learned the business in all its details. He then accepted a position in the drug store of Pond and Lawson at Woodland, Yolo county, and in 1890 came to Yreka, Siskiyou county, as manager of the drug store of E. Auten- rieth and Company, which position he held for six years. On March 13. 1896, he embarked in business for himself, and now conducts a prosperous and widely known establishment, with an extensive trade in all the sur- rounding country.
Mr. O'Connell is an active Democrat in local party affairs, and on July IO, 1903, was appointed coroner and public administrator to fill the unex- pired term of John A. Fairchild. He is also president of the Yreka board of health. Fraternally he is council commander of the Woodmen of the World and is treasurer of Yreka Parlor, N. S. G. W.
Mr. O'Connell was married, August 15. 1886, in Woodland, California. to Miss Carrie L. Hadsall, who died in April, 1887, without issue. She was born in Bloomington, Illinois, a daughter of Frank Hadsall, and her brother, Charles F., is county clerk of Yolo county. On June 13, 1894, Mr. O'Con- nell married, in Yreka, Miss Georgie Oberlin, who was born in Yreka and is a daughter of William R. Oberlin, one of the pioneers of the county and now a retired merchant. He belonged to the family that founded Oberlin College in Ohio. There is one child of this marriage, Berenice, who is in school.
HON. ALLISON B. WARE.
Hon. Allison B. Ware, who is one of the best known and most emi- nently successful lawyers of the bar of Sonoma county, has been a resident of the city of Santa Rosa since taking up his location in California over thirty years ago, and during all this time has been identified with the best interests of city and county in addition to his successful prosecution of his profession. He has enjoyed a liberal and high-class patronage, and through-
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out his long and varied practice in local courts and the courts of appeal he has exhibited an ability and high-minded integrity that have well won him the esteem and trust of his fellow men. He has been honored with offices of trust and responsibility, and his career from his entrance into responsible activity has been highly creditable to himself and useful to the community.
Mr. Ware was born at Fort Covington, New York, in 1847, and in that state grew to manhood and received a liberal education. At the age of twenty-one he came to California, and his principal interests have been identi- fied with Sonoma county ever since. He was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the state, and, a short time after, was elected district at- torney for a term of two years, from 1880. He filled that important office with marked ability and absolute fearlessness. He has enjoyed a large gen- eral practice almost since the inception of his legal career, and has given his best efforts to the work. He was at one time also president of the Santa Rosa National Bank.
Mr. Ware followed teaching for several years in his young manhood, and has accordingly been able to give an intelligent interest to educational af- fairs. He has served as president of the city board of education and also of the county board of education, and has done much for the schools and the advancement of the standard of education. Mr. Ware is a Knight Templar Mason, and has been frequently honored with high offices by that order. He has been exalted ruler of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks ever since its establishment in Santa Rosa.
Mr. Ware married Miss Lilla Werlein of New Orleans, and they are the parents of seven children: Allison, the oldest son, now twenty-three years old. is a graduate of the University of California, and is now an at- torney-at-law; he is a married man. Philip McG., the second son, aged twenty-one, graduated from the Santa Rosa high school, and is now en- gaged in stock-raising in Mendocino county; Charles M., aged nineteen, married Grace Elizabeth Berry. Miss Lilla, aged seventeen, was graduted from the Santa Rosa high school June 17th, 1904. Miss Margaret is also attending high school, as are also Mabel M., fourteen years old, and Wallace L., youngest of the family, aged twelve.
WARREN O. ROBISON.
Warren O. Robison has succeeded well in life's affairs, and is among the most influential and best known of the men who have devoted themselves to the agricultural and stock-raising enterprises of the San Joaquin valley. He is a pioneer of the state, and has been continuously identified with the interests of San Joaquin county since 1858. Thus there are many pioneer experiences in the forepart of his career, and his life is an interesting combination of both the old and the new in California history.
He was born in Genesee county, New York, November 14, 1822, so that he is now an octogenarian and wondrously active and capable for one who bears the weight of so many years. His parents were Joseph and Abigail
V. O. Robisom
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(Strong) Robison, both natives of New York state. One of their sons, George, was a soldier in the Civil war.
Mr. Robison, in 1836, accompanied his parents to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and was there reared to manhood and completed his education in the Pennsylvania schools. After he arrived at maturity he went to the middle west, and during the winters of 1850 and 1851 he was employed in the lead mines at Dubuque, Iowa. In the spring of 1852 he left that city bound for California. He joined the large company which was so well known as the " Rickey crowd," and he drove an ox team from Dubuque to Volcano, California, the trip being made by the way of Salt Lake. For a time after reaching this state he was engaged in gold mining, and also embarked inde- pendently in the dairy industry near the Mountain Ranch in Calaveras county. In 1858 he came to San Joaquin county and located on a ranch about eleven miles from Stockton on the Sonora road. Ever since that date he has been assiduous in prosecuting his ranching and stock-raising interests, and has made this line of enterprise unusually profitable. When he came here he pur- chased six hundred and eighty acres, part of which was school land, and it was all new and unimproved, and one of the best monuments to his industry . and good management is the fine estate which he has developed in the subse- quent years. He resided on the ranch and gave his active and personal super- vision to its conduct for a number of years, until early in the eighties, when he removed to the city of Stockton. His residence at the corner of California street and Hazelton avenue is considered one of the finest in Stockton, and this city is noted throughout the west for its beautiful homes, being in fact a city of private residences. Since taking up his abode in Stockton he has not, however, given up his ranching concerns, and still pays personal attention to the agricultural and stock industries in which he has gained his greatest suc- cess.
Mr. Robison is independent in politics, and in all public affairs he is eminently public-spirited and ready to advance the common weal of his com- munity. He stands among the self-made and well made men of California, and has achieved his success by his own diligent and persevering endeavor. It is related that when he arrived in this state he had but " two bits " to his name, and without capital or influential friends he made the start which led him to prosperity and a position of high esteem among his fellow citizens.
In November, 1858, he was married to Miss Mary Flattery, a native of County Galway, Ireland, and of the ten children of this marriage five are now living, as follows: John O., in Stanislaus county ; Margaret, at home; Mary, Catherine and Annie, all at home. Mrs. Robison is a daughter of John and Mary (McCue) Flattery, who were of old representative families of County Galway.
PHILIP M. WALSH.
Hon. Philip M. Walsh, now representing his district in the general assembly of California and serving as chief deputy district attorney, is a native son of San Francisco. He was born on the Ist of May, 1870, his parents being Maurice D. and Mary Walsh, both of whom were natives of
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Ireland and came to California in 1866. Prior to this time the father had served his adopted country as a soldier of the Civil war, becoming a corporal of the Sixty-ninth New York regiment, forming a part of what was known as the Irish Brigade. In the family were three sons and one daughter, Philip M. being the eldest.
At the usual age Philip M. Walsh became a pupil in the public schools of Oakland, California. In his early business career he became a reporter on the Oakland Times, and in 1890 became a court reporter, filling that posi- tion until 1895. In the meantime he liad devoted all his leisure hours to the reading of law, and in 1895 was admitted to the bar, since which time he has engaged in practice. In 1899 he served as a deputy district attorney, and in 1900 was appointed chief deputy under John J. Allen, which position he is now filling. He also has a good private practice and has proved his ability to cope with intricate problems of the law and carry them forward to a suc- cessful solution.
The political support of Mr. Walsh is given the Republican party. and political questions elicit his deep and earnest consideration as they affect the municipal, state or national welfare. In 1902 he was elected to represent his district in the general assembly of California for a two years' term. and . although he is one of the younger members of the body he is also recognized as an active and valued member of the house, fearless in support of his honest convictions and laboring effectively for the promotion of the best in- terests of the commonwealth. Socially he is identified with the Native Sons of the Golden West and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
In 1894 Mr. Walsh married Miss Annette Lefevre, a daughter of Dr. A. Lefevre, who was one of the leading dentists of California. Theirs is a pleasant and hospitable home and the circle of their friends is constantly growing as the circle of their acquaintance broadens.
ROBERT ROSS.
Robert Ross, who is proprietor of a blacksmith and carriage-making business in Santa Rosa, has carried on this enterprise for over thirty years. He is not only one of the pioneers in the industrial interests of Sonoma county, but is likewise one of its most prominent citizens. He has been identified with California history since boyhood, a period of nearly forty years, and is a typical representative of the best citizenry of the state, stanch and true to principle and the established institutions, upright and honorable in all the relations of life. and one of the substantial natures whom the community banks on as one of its principal assets when a compre- hensive summing up of its individual worth of character and manhood is made.
Mr. Ross was born in Franklin county, New York, May 20, 1845, and was a son of a life-long farmer in that county and state, Robert Ross. Sr., who died at the age of fifty-nine years. His mother. Jane (Miller) Ross, is still living on the old homestead in New York state, and is now in ad- vanced age.
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Mr. Ross passed his youthful days on a farm, where at an early age he learned the value and importance of hard labor. In the meantime he at- tended the neighboring district school, principally during the winter. He learned the blacksmith and carriage-making trade at Buffalo, New York, and was a master workman in this line when he arrived in Sonoma county, California, in November, 1865, when not yet twenty-one years of age. He began business in Sebastopol, and for three years the firm of Crawford and Ross continued a prosperous trade. Mr. Ross then drew out of the firm, and came to Santa Rosa, where in 1872 he established the carriage-making and blacksmith business which he has carried on so successfully ever since. He has a good and dependable trade, and much of his patronage has con- tinued steadily with him since he began business.
Mr. Ross affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ever- green Lodge. He is independent in matters political, and served as school trustee for six years. He was married in 1872 to Miss Lou Ann Hall, a daughter of Bishop Hall, of Santa Rosa. They have four children: William, a blacksmith, in Santa Rosa; Jane, who married C. F. Brearty, a teacher, and they have one child; Lottie, who married George Jensen; and Ruby, at home.
DAVID BURRIS.
David Burris, whose death occurred at his residence in Sonoma, Janu- ary 5, 1904, was one of the most highly respected and wealthiest of Sonoma county citizens, and his death closed a long and useful life, many years of which were spent in old Sonoma and other parts of this state. He was promi- nently connected with financial and business affairs of Sonoma county for half a century, and few men were better known in this section of the state. His name was a synonym for honor and integrity, and he will be long remembered for the public-spirited part he bore in affairs pertaining to the general welfare. Wherever he came in contact with his fellow men the influence of his strong and aggressive character was felt, and power and energy seemed to radiate from his being and compel action. He lacked one day of reaching the eight- ieth milestone of his life's course, and from the very early years of this life he gave himself to usefulness and activity, his business experience covering a large territory of the United States. He was especially familiar with the events in the development and progress of this great Pacific coast state, and his life was a most edifying example of the progressive and noble-hearted western pioneer.
The late David Burris was born in Old Franklin, Howard county, Mis- souri, January 6, 1824, only three years after the state was admitted to the Union, and at a time when pioneer primitive conditions were everywhere over that now great state. He was educated in one of the old-fashioned dis- trict schools, and with the greater part of his younger years devoted to labor rather than to the present easy life of the schoolboy.
In the late summer of 1846, during the Mexican war, he was engaged to haul provisions, for the United States army, from Fort Leavenworth to Mexico, and in this occupation passed through many thrilling experiences.
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In May, 1849, the Pleasant Hill Company, of which Mr. Burris and his eldest brother were members, crossed the plains to California by what was called the Lawson route. In October of the same year the Burris brothers engaged in mining at Bidwell's bar, on Feather river. In the fall of 1850 Mr. Burris moved to Plumas county, where he mined with success, and from there moved to Sonoma county in 1851, so that he was one of the earliest settlers of the county where he passed most of his subsequent years. In 1852 he returned to Missouri and remained there until the spring of 1856, when he started to California with a big herd of cattle. When he and his men reached Humboldt creek they were attacked by a band of Indians, and in the battle royal which ensued the redskins were routed, however not until two white men were wounded. In the winter of 1856-7 Mr. Burris was located in Napa county, and in the fall of 1857 he moved to Tulare county, where he was engaged in stock-raising and trading until 1869, when he took up his abode in Sonoma county, this time for a life-long residence.
Mr. Burris was prosperous in his business and agricultural enterprises, and at his death owned a large amount of property. He was one of the founders of the Santa Rosa Bank and of the Sonoma Valley Bank, and was president of the latter institution for many years. He had retired in the main from active participation in business, and was in failing health for some time before his death.
Mr. Burris is survived by his wife, Julia A. Burris, and the following children: Mrs. Henry Hopper, of Ukiah; Walter, Joshua, Henry and Ed- ward Burris, of Tulare; Mrs. Alice Welker, of San Francisco; Mrs. Laura Draper, of Tulare: Frank Burris, assistant cashier of the Santa Rosa Bank ; and Mrs. Dora Glaister, of Sonoma. L. W. Burris, cashier of the Santa Rosa Bank, and Jesse Burris, cashier of the Sonoma Bank, are nephews of David Burris.
Mr. Burris took an active part in Masonry and was identified with the order F. & A. M. for the past thirty-five years. For many years he was a prominent member of the Methodist Church of Sonoma.
Mr. Burris' remains were interred in the family vault at Cypress Lawn cemetery, San Mateo county.
GEORGE DAVID SECORD.
George David Secord is filling the position of constable at Napa and in the discharge of his duties displays faithfulness, capability and marked devotion to the general good. He was born in Auburn, Placer county, Cali- fornia, on the 16th of August, 1856, and is a son of Luke Edward and Mary Anne (Julian) Secord, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Il- linois. In the paternal line he is of French lineage and on the maternal side is of English descent. Mr. L. E. Secord on coming to California first set- tled on Mormon Island in Eldorado county, and his wife made the trip with an emigrant train. crossing the plains to Freeport, a town below Sacra- mento. Luke E. Secord devoted his attention to mining for three or four years, following that pursuit until about 1851 or 1852. He was afterward
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for eight years engaged in the hotel business at Auburn, Placer county ; he engaged in mining in the Auburn ravine and also became foreman on the Donner Lake road. His next place of residence was at Dutch Flat in Placer county, where he lived in 1861-2. He afterward engaged in teaming from Sacramento, California, to Virginia City, Nevada, and subsequently was in the employ of Towl Brothers Lumber Company until his removal to Napa in 1878. After some time spent in this city he left here and opened a whole- sale liquor business, which he was conducting when he was stricken with paralysis. His son and daughters then brought him home to Napa, where he died on the 5th of April, 1903. His widow is still living in Oakland, California, making her home with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Viola Ban- nister.
George D. Secord acquired his early education at Dutch Flat in Placer county, California, attending the public schools between the ages of eight and fifteen years. He then ran away from home, desiring to make his own living, and entering the employ of Towl Brothers, worked in their lumber mills for three years, receiving fifty dollars per month in addition to his board and lodging. Saving his earnings he purchased a four-horse team and a wagon and then engaged in hauling railroad wood for the company. That he displayed splendid business foresight and capable management for one so young is shown by the fact that when he was twenty years of age he had a capital of four thousand dollars in the bank. His father induced him to give him the money for investment, however, and it was all lost in mining speculation. At length Mr. Secord sold his team and accepted a position as fireman on the railroad, following that calling for three years. On the expiration of that period he became a clerk in the hotel at Truckee and afterward in a hotel at Lake Tahoe. He was next clerk in the Putnam House at Auburn, California, and he spent three years in a similar position at the Palace Hotel at Napa, and one year at the Napa Hotel at this place. When the electrical works were first established in Napa he devoted one year to the task of wiring the city and was made foreman of the plant in 1890.
Almost continuously since that time Mr. Secord has been in public office. In the fall of 1890 he was nominated for the position of constable and being elected served for a term covering the years 1891-2. In the fall of 1892 he was renominated and re-elected, and in 1894 was again chosen for a two years' term. Then after an intermission of two years he was again elected in 1898, and his present term will cover the period from 1902 to 1906. He has important public service to perform in this connection, and he discharges his duties without fear or favor and his loyalty to the public welfare is cer- tainly indicated in unmistakable manner by his long retention in office.
On the 6th of May, 1891. Mr. Secord was united in marriage to Miss Winnie Scott, a native of Scotland and a daughter of J. C. Scott, a pioneer stationer of San Francisco. They have three daughters. Vivian, Velma and Viola. all of whom are attending school in Napa. Mr. Secord is well known in fraternal and social circles and is a popular representative of various
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organizations. He belongs to the Fraternal Eagles, No. 161, of which he is a past president; to the United Order of Working Men; to Napa Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West, of which he is a vice president; the Improved Order of Red Men; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Foresters of America; and the Circle of Pocahontas. He is also a member of the Eagle Cycle Club of Napa and belongs to the hook and ladder fire company of the town. All matters pertaining to the welfare of his city and its substantial upbuilding elicit his attention and oftentimes receive his hearty co-operation. His various business and official duties have brought him a wide acquaintance, and his personal traits of character have gained him the warm friendship of many with whom he has been associated.
JOHN F. COOPER.
John F. Cooper, who is one of the oldest and best known citizens of Sacramento, has had a remarkable career since his arrival in California over fifty years ago, when a boy of twelve or thirteen years. He has had a taste of seafaring life, learned the details of the printer's trade and followed that pursuit for several years, has been to a greater or less extent engaged in min- ing and ranching since boyhood, was for many years one of the leading musicians and a prominent factor in most of the musical events of that state, for a third of a century conducted the leading music store of Sacramento, and for the past ten years has been interested in various important lines of business, being the proprietor of the Capital Sacramento Transfer, Van and Storage Company.
Mr. Cooper was born in Lexington, Kentucky, December 17, 1840. His father, Archibald H. Cooper, was of English descent and of an old Kentucky family, an early member of which had fought on the side of the colonists in the Revolution. He was a physician by profession and died in 1853. His wife was Elizabeth Agnes (McIntosh) Cooper, a native of Kentucky and likewise of old and Revolutionary stock, being Scotch-English in descent. Her death occurred in 1854. Of the children of these parents, one daugh- ter died recently, a son died while the family were crossing the plains, and another brother, David M., served in the Civil war and fought Indians on the coast, and died in Sacramento in 1901, being buried with Grand Army honors.
John F. Cooper attended school in Kentucky, and in 1852 made the trip across the plains. His father and uncle had come to California in 1849, and had stores at Mud Spring and Diamond Spring, to both of which places they gave the names. In 1852 Archibald Cooper sent his brother-in-law, John McIntosh, who now lives at Nelson Station, back east to bring the fam- ily. The family and the party of relatives made a large company, occupy- ing twenty-seven wagons, and the boy John made the long and eventful journey astride of a little white mule. This trip was made the more perilous on account of cholera and the Mormons, and they were three and a half months on the way, arriving in the Golden state August 27, 1852. Most of the party took up their residence in Colusa county, but John F. Cooper
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